Safety system for strand take-up machines

ABSTRACT

A conventional traverse mechanism distributes the strand uniformly on the takeup reel as the latter is driven, and the shaft which drives the traverse actuates a switch periodically as the shaft rotates. The switch is associated with a current source and means for storing an electrical charge, so that each actuation of the switch causes the storing means to be electrically charged and thereby maintain a relay energized during the time intervals between actuations of the switch. If the traverse ceases to operate for any reason, the switch remains unactuated and thus allows the electrical charge in the storing means to decrease to the point where the relay is deenergized, thereby operating an alarm device and/or stopping the motor which drives the takeup reel.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Charles Feder Riverdale, N.Y.

Apr. 1, 1969 Jan. 26, 1971 Phelps Dodge Copper Products Corporation New York, N.Y.

a corporation of Delaware SAFETY SYSTEM FOR STRAND TAKE-UP Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Attorney-Davis, Hoxie, Faithfull and Hapgood ABSTRACT: A conventional traverse mechanism distributes the strand uniformly on the takeup reel as the latter is driven, and the shaft which drives the traverse actuates a switch periodically as the shaft rotates. The switch is associated with a current source and means for storing an electrical charge, so that each actuation of the switch causes the storing means to be electrically charged and thereby maintain a relay energized during the time intervals between actuations of the switch. If the traverse ceases to operate for any reason, the switch remains unactuated and thus allows the electrical charge in the storing means to decrease to the point where the relay is deenergized, thereby operating an alarm device and/orstopping the motor which drives the takeup reel. 

1. In combination with a strand takeup machine including a takeup reel, an electric motor for driving the reel, and a shaft rotatable to drive a traverse mechanism for distributing the strand uniformly on the takeup reel as the reel rotates, a safety system comprising means for storing an electric charge, a switch operatively connected to said traverse shaft and actuated periodically as the shaft rotates, current supply means associated with said storing means and switch and operable upon each actuation of the switch to electrically charge the storing means, a relay operatively connected to the storing means and adapted to be energized by an electric charge stored therein, the relay being deenergized in response to cessation of said periodic actuation of the switch, and a fault signalling device associated with said relay and operable upon deenergizing of the relay.
 2. The combination of claim 1, in which said signalling device is an alarm device.
 3. The combination of claim 1, in which said signalling device is adapted, when operated, to stop said driving of the reel.
 4. The combination of claim 1 in which said signalling device is an alarm device, the combination comprising also means for stopping said driving of the reel upon expiration of a predetermined time interval following said deenergizing of the relay.
 5. The combination of claim 1, in which said signalling device is an alarm device, the combination comprising also second means for storing an electric charge and a associated with said switch and current supply means, the current supply means being operable upon each actuation of the switch to electrically charge the second storing means, a second relay operatively connected to the second storing means and adapted to be energized by an electric charge stored therein, said second storing means having a greater capacity than the first-mentioned storing means and being operable to deenergize the second relay upon expiration of a predetermined time interval following said deenergizing of the first-mentioned relay, and a second fault signalling device associated with the second relay and operable upon deenergizing thereof to stop said driving of the reel. 